The Soccer World Cup competition occupied the attention of practically every South African and influenced our way of living for four weeks in June and July this year: then life returned to its more normal form. However, we were again reminded of the significance of this event on 10th July, when the Brazilian Government handed over a replica of Our Lady of Aparecida to Regina Mundi Church in Soweto, Johannesburg: the reason being that Brazil will host the next World Cup in 2014.

The statue, about 30 cm high and clothed in typical Portuguese style, was enthroned in the Church during the ecumenical service. The Church was filled to capacity and had a large contingent of Brazilian and South African dignitaries. There were representatives from the World Council of Churches, the mainline Churches, members of the South African Ecumenical Fraternity, leaders of various community formations and other distinguished guests.  Archbishop Buti Tlhagale and Bishop Dowling represented the Catholic Church.

Our Lady of Aparecida

The statue has an interesting history. In October 1717, Dom Pedro de Almeida was passing through the area of Guaratinguetá during a trip to Vila Rica, an important gold mining site. The people decided to hold a feast in his honour and, although it was not the fishing season, the fishermen went to fish for the feast. Three of the fishermen, Domingos Garcia, João Alves and Filipe Pedroso prayed to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception and asked God’s help.   They were unable to catch any fish and after several hours of trying they were ready to give up when João cast his net once more. Instead of fish, he hauled in the body of a statue with a missing head. They cast their net again and brought up the statue’s head. After cleaning the statue they found that it was a black version of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

Legend has it that when the fishermen recovered the body it became so heavy that they couldn’t move it. They wrapped it in a cloth and continued to fish. Now their catch was so great that they returned to port because the weight of the fish threatened to sink their craft. In the course of time, many miracles were attributed to Our Lady of Aparecida and devotion grew rapidly among the Afro-Brazilians.   She is the patron saint of Brazil. The Basilica dedicated to her honour is the fourth most popular Marian shrine in the world and can hold up to 45,000 worshippers. At the conclusion of the ceremony in Soweto, Archbishop Tlhagale presented the Brazilian minister with a framed photograph of the Soweto Black Madonna. The spirit of the World Cup lives on.

Berchmans Dowling rsm
South African Province